Honeycomb: Android 3.0 is more than a pretty face

Google kept tight wraps on Honeycomb, the version of Android designed specifically to work on tablet computers, for quite a while. First it was flashed briefly at by Android chief Andy Rubin at the D8 conference. At CES, Motorola got the honor of giving it a more public showing via its upcoming Xoom tablet.

But on Wednesday, Android 3.0 finally saw full daylight. Google released the latest Software Development Kit, handing app makers the tools they need to start building programs. The SDK now includes the user interface – which Google describes as "holographic" – that makes Honeycomb tablet-friendly.

Xavier Ducrohet, the tech lead on the Android SDK, ticked off the most important new features:

UI framework for creating great apps for larger screen devices: Developers can use a new UI components, new themes, richer widgets and notifications, drag and drop, and other new features to create rich and engaging apps for users on larger screen devices.

High-performance 2D and 3D graphics: A new property-based animation framework lets developers add great visual effects to their apps. A built-in GL renderer lets developers request hardware-acceleration of common 2D rendering operations in their apps, across the entire app or only in specific activities or views. For adding rich 3D scenes, developers take advantage of a new 3D graphics engine called Renderscript.

Support for multicore processor architectures: Android 3.0 is optimized to run on either single- or dual-core processors, so that applications run with the best possible performance.

Rich multimedia: New multimedia features such as HTTP Live streaming support, a pluggable DRM framework, and easy media file transfer through MTP/PTP, give developers new ways to bring rich content to users.

New types of connectivity: New APIs for Bluetooth A2DP and HSP let applications offer audio streaming and headset control. Support for Bluetooth insecure socket connection lets applications connect to simple devices that may not have a user interface.

Enhancements for enterprise: New administrative policies, such as for encrypted storage and password expiration, help enterprise administrators manage devices more effectively.

Those tidbits are intriguing for developers. Of course, what most users want to know is this: What does the interface look like? Is it easy to use on a tablet? And just how cool is it?

I got to see Honeycomb on the Xoom at CES and I was very impressed. It reminds me of a mashup of the current Android interface, blended with Palm’s webOS and the cool, tiled look of Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7. I’ve been urging folks who are interested in buying an Android tablet to wait for it, rather than hop on an Android 2.2-based tablet. Even Google has said Android’s current interface really isn’t suited to tablet use.

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11 Responses

But the price points for many of the rumored tablets has me reluctant. $700 for one of these babies is ridiculous; I can almost buy an Air for that price, for goodness’ sake, and the latter doesn’t come with the ball and chain of a wireless contract.

I also think the apparent likelihood that many of these tablet manufacturers are going to withhold or delay WiFi versions of these tablets is moronic in the extreme, and demonstrates the greed regarding carrier ties that may further undermine market penetration.

Thus, what I’m especially looking forward to with Honeycomb is not the high end but the bargain end for tablets. I don’t want or need all that fancy power in a media consumption device, and I certainly don’t want to pay $700 — plus a freaking data K — when I can get a very, very nice laptop for that same price (including an ultraport). But if you make a decent tablet that generally functions well for the limited uses I want it for — I’m thinking perhaps of Archos’ most recent internet tablets here as a model, which have generally earned decent reviews — and you slap Honeycomb on at a netbook-style price point (~$300), I’d buy one fast as can be.

I would prefer to hold a Honeycomb tablet in my hand and play with it first before deciding whether I want one or not. It looks very promising, but performance, battery life, and the number of tablet optimized apps will determine Honeycomb’s success.

Consumers win by having a bevy of tablet choices like from Google, RIM, Palm (now HP), and eventually Microsoft. Of course, Apple is the belle if the ball, and the next version of the iPad will determine if they can revolutionize the tablet market . . . again.

I’m looking for a 7″ tablet that would become my e-book reader and tablet. 7″ tablets with 800 x 480 screens are useless as e-readers, so those are out. The Galaxy tab is $500, which is too much money for what it is, especially when there is no word on whether the Tab will run Honeycomb. The Nook Color has the screen, size, price and battery life, but it has to be hacked to be anything more than a reader.

WebOS and BlackBerry tablets will likely only have limited application support, so those are out for now.

Basically, I’m looking for a 7″ Android or Apple tablet with a 1024 x 600 capacitive screen for $300 – $400. 3G is not required. As I mentioned above, the Nook Color is closest right now, but doesn’t have the software support it needs.

Google still hasn’t solved the main problem that is keeping business users away like the plague. All these toys and features are great as long as you are reading, or playing on the net, or shuffling mp3′s. However, if you want a good calendar and seamless email along with a great task list, you will not find it in the Android world. There is nothing out there for complex progam or project management. Then again, it may be too new.

Too little real function for too much money +++ the cost of the data plan so that the device can worship the almighty Google god without which Android is TOTALLY useless! No way and not Android.

Looks nice. It will be nice once they hit the market and you can actualy use one. With the Web OS tablet coming out soon, it should be interesting. So far, the leaked specs on the HP Web OS device look more promising than the Android tablets.

I’ve been using CompanionLink to link my Outlook calendar with a GMail account I rarely use. Works well for me (better than MobileMe did). My Tasks in Outlook are coming through to my calendar on my phone without doing a thing.

Rich multimedia: New multimedia features such as HTTP Live streaming support, a pluggable DRM framework, and easy media file transfer through MTP/PTP, give developers new ways to bring rich content to users.

So can I assume this new HTTP Live streaming support is going to use WebM instead of H.264? Too bad that will drain the poor user’s battery. But it would be hypocritical of Google to add new support for H.264 on Android after their proclaiming their overwhelming requirements for patent & license free codecs on Chrome.

Do I expect any journalist covering Google and Android to ask questions about this? No of course not. Google might decide to limit access if asked tough questions.